Machine for packing matches



Il I L .1 ILJU V 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 u l I L J J l l l" Ll H. BROWN MACHINE FOR PACKING WATCHES Filed Jn. 5, 1940 u MTU Feb. 24, 1942.

Feb. 24, 1942. H. BROWN MACHINE FOR PACKINGl WATCHES Filed Jan.. s, 1940 4 Sheets-Sheet L Feb. 24, 1942. H. BROWN MACHINE Fon PACKING WATCHES Filed Jan. 3, 1940 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 M124, 1942. H. BROWN 2,274,035

MACHINE FOR` PACKING WATCHES Filed Jan.y 5, 194C 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Patented Feb. 24, 1942 MACHINE Foa PACKING MATCHES Hugo Brown, Barberton, Ohio, assignor to The Diamond Match Company, New York, N. Y., a

corporation of Delaware Application January 3, 1940, Serial No. 312,250

3 Claims. (Cl.

tion one end of the underfilled tray. Counting This invention relates to means for packing matches in boxes, and has especial relation to means for automatically indicating by distinctive signals (visual or aural) the presence of overfilled and underlled box trays during their travel, in order that an attendant shall have ample opportunity to remove the improperly lled trays before their arrival at the cover or shuck applying mechanism. In an overfilled tray the excess matches bulge above the top of the progressing tray and are therefore exposed to the view of the attendant, whereas in the case of an underfllled tray the matches, being below the top of the tray, are not directly visible to the attendant. Therefore, in addition to the prescribed signal, means is also provided for piercing, indenting or otherwise marking the forward end of each underfilled tray so that the tray may be readily identified and selected for removal by the attendant.

My invention is herein illustrated as applied to a match packing machine of the type disclosed in Letters Patent of the United States No. 1,016,436 dated February 6, 1912, wherein a succession of box trays are borne by an intermittently movable endless conveyor to and across the path of approximately measured quantities of matches at a suitable source of supply, thence conveyed to a station where a protection strip is applied to each succeeding tray of matches, and thence conveyed to a station where each tray and its contents are entered in a shuck or cover, as by reference to said Letters Patent will more fully appear.

In the present embodiment of my invention are employed two distinctive electric signaling devices which are included in circuits having independent switch control elements arranged in co-operative relation to the path of the matches contained in each succeeding tray, so that in the event of the presence of an overiilled tray, i. e., one in which the matches are above a predetermined level, the surplus matches co-act with one of the switch elements to complete temporarily the circuit in which a distinctive light signal, such as a red lamp, is also included, and in the event of the presence of an underi'llled box, i. e., one in which the matches are below the determined level, the other switch element is similarly actuated to complete the circuit in which a distinctive signal, such as a white lamp, is included. In thelatter circuit is also included a marking device which is so constructed and arranged that when the circuit is completed, the device is actuated to pierce or otherwise mark for identificamechanisms of any usual or approved construction are preferably included in the respective electric circuits so as to be concurrently actuated with the associated signals in order to register the relative number of overiilled and underfilled match trays during a stated period of time.

The invention also comprises other features of construction and combinations of parts which, in a preferred form, will be hereinafter described, the scope of the invention being expressed in the appended claims.

In the drawings- Figure 1 is an elevation of a portion of the tray-conveyer and adjuncts of a match packing machine embodying my invention, the signaling mechanism being shown in down position while co-acting with the contents of an underlled match tray borne by the conveyer.

Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the signaling mechanism, showing the parts in their relative positions while being acted upon by the contents of an underflled tray.

Fig. 3 is a transverse vertical section through the conveyer and table, adjacent the signaling mechanism, showing the elements of said mechanism in their relative positions While they are being acted upon by the contents of an overlled tray, one side of which tray is broken away for clearness.

Fig. 4 is a plan of the mechanism shown in Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 is a transverse vertical section through the conveyer and table, as in Fig. 3, but showing the elements of the signaling mechanism in their relative positions while they are being acted upon by the contents of an underiilled tray.

Fig. 6 is a front end elevation of the mechanism as shown in Fig. 5.

Fig. '7 is a view generally similar to Figs. 3 and 5, but showing the signaling elements in their relative positions when the matches in the underfilled tray are at different levels at the respective ends of the tray.

Fig. 8 is a front end elevation of the mechanism as shown in Fig. 7.

Fig. 9 is a transverse vertical section directly in front of the signal mechanism, as on the line 9--9 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 10 is a diagram of the electric wiring layout of the signaling mechanism, the circuit switches being indicated as open.

Referring to the drawings, l5 designates a part of the supporting frame of a match packing machine including a table i6 upon which the tray conveyer is supported and guided from the match supply station to the cover supply station.

This conveyer as herein shown comprises an endless chain of links having on their inner faces gear teeth I8 with which mesh the teeth of the actuating gear wheels, of which one is indicated at I9, and having on their outer faces box tray holders disposed transversely of the conveyer.

Mounted on the table, adjacent the path of the conveyer and beyond the usual protectionstrip supply station, is a standard 2| at a detector station, having therein a guideway for a vertical plunger 22. The upper end of this plunger carries a head 23 which overhangs the path of the upper run of the tray conveyer, and the lower end of the plunger is operatively connected by means of a link 24 with one arm of a lever 25 that is fulcrumed in a bearing bracket 26 on the base 2`| of the frame I5. The other arm of the lever bears a stud or roller 28 with which coacts a cam 29 borne by a driven shaft 3U journaled in bearings in a bracket 3| on the base 21. The stud or roller is maintained in operative contact with the cam by means of a spring 32 which is secured at its respective ends to the adjacent lever arm and the table.

Slidably mounted in and through perforations in the overhanging head 23 are a series of vertically-movable detectors comprising plungers which are arranged in spaced parallel relation so as to be movable toward and from the path of each succeeding box tray (T) after the tray leaves the usual protection-strip applying mechanism. In the present instance there are three detector plungers, namely, a plunger 33 in a vertical plane intersecting the midportion of a tray when the conveyer is at rest, and two detector plungers 34 in vertical planes adjacent the respective interior ends of the tray. Each of the detector plungers is provided with a foot 35- between which and the underside of the head 23 is a suitable spring 36 which normally depresses the plunger in relation to the head 23, the normal down position of the foot of the plunger being nicely determined by means of adjusting nuts 3'1 threaded on the upper projecting portion of the plunger and in co-operative relation to the head 23.

The central detector plunger 33 controls a normally-open switch 38 (preferably of the mercury j electric type) for a branch electric circuit 39 in which is included a suitably-located signal element, as, for example, a red light electric lamp 40, and the detector plungers 34 jointly control a similar normally-open switch 4| for a branch circuit 42' in which is included a distinctive signal element, such as a white light electric lamp 43. A diagram showing the electrical wiring lay-out is shown in Fig. 10.

The switches 38 and 4| are held by metal clips 44 on two cradles 45 and 46, respectively, which are suitably supported by the standard 2|. Each of these cradles is constituted by a plate extending transversely of the upper run of the conveyer and having depending end lips 41 rotatably mounted on a stud shaft 48 which is xed to a lug 49 on the standard. The end of the plate adjacent the standard is laterally extended, as at 50, to afford a substantial support for the switch, which switch is disposed transversely of the longitudinal axis of the cradle and occupies normally a slightly inclined position in one direction when the circuit is open, which circuit is completed when the cradle and switch are swung to an inclined position in the opposite direction iol through the elevation of the detector plunger 33, or the downward movement of one or both of the plungers 34 beyond a predetermined level, when moved toward or into contact with the underlying contents of a box tray. The cradles and 46 are maintained by gravity in their normal positions, or positions in which the switches 38 and 4| are open.

Secured to the top of the central detector plunger 33 is one end of a forwardly-extending arm 5| in the free end portion of which is mounted a vertical adjustment screw 52 that is vertically guided in a yoke 53. This yoke is secured at its ends to a bifurcated bracket 54 extending forwardly from the plunger head 23 and spanning the shorter arm 55 of a lever 56 which is pivoted, as at 5l, to and between the limbs of the bracket. The arm 55 is yieldingly held in contact with the lower end of the adjustment screw 52 by means of a spring pressed pin 58 which bears against the underside of the arm 55.

This pin is in axial alignment with the screw 52, and is normally raised by a spring 59 which is weaker than the spring 36 of the detector plunger 33 so as to be overcome by the force of the latter spring. In the present instance the pin 58 is vertically guided in the body of the bracket 54 and in a lower outwardly extended portion 60 of the bracket. The longer arm of the lever 56 overhangs the cradle 45 which supports the switch 38, and is provided with an adjustment screw 6| which is set to remain in contact with a forward lip 62 of the cradle during the reciprocation of the detector plunger 33 in each dwell of the tray conveyer.

The detector 33 is so vertically adjusted in relation to the plunger head 23 and the path of the underlying tray that if the tray be properly filled with matches the foot of such detector will be clear or nearly so of the protection-strip overlying the matches (M) when the head 23 is at the limit of its downward stroke, and therefore the inclined open position of the switch 33 will be unaffected. Hence in this circumstance no signal will be given. If, however, the tray should be overfilled the foot of the descending detector 33 will yieldingly bear upon the mid-section of the opposing protection-strip (S) in the tray, and in consequence the detector 33 and its arm 5| will be forced upward a limited extent against the action of the spring 3B, thus elevating the depending screw 52 of the arm, and permitting the spring pin 58 to raise the shorter arm 55 of the lever 56 a corresponding distance, thereby swinging downward the longer arm of the lever. Therefore the screw 6| of the lever will press upon and partially turn downward the forward portion of the cradle 45 in a manner to tilt the switch 38 from its normal open position to the oppositely inclined or circuit closing position, as seen in Figs. 3 and 9. Thus the signal 40 will be energized and indicate the presence of the overfilled tray to the attendant who will then have ample opportunity to remove from the conveyer the overfilled tray during its continued progress toward the cover applying mechanism.

Preferably there is included in the electric circuit 39 an electrically operated motor 63 of any usual or approved construction which is effective to operate a register 64 adapted to indicate numerically the overlled match trays borne by the tray conveyer and presented to the signaling mechanism during a given period of time. The register selected for illustration is of the type wherein a magnetically impelled solenoid core 65 is pivotally connected by means of a link 66 with a crank 61 on one end of the actuating shaft 68 of the register. When the circuit 39 is completed as hereinbefore described the core 65 is reciprocated and the register is actuated to indicate the overfilled tray, but when the boxes are properly filled or are underfilled the circuit 39 remains open and the register as well as the signal element is idle. In the present instance the motor and register are mounted ona shelf 630 which is supported by'a bracket 640 affixed to the standard 2|.

The end detector plungers 34 have xed to their upper ends rearwardly extending arms 69 that are pivotally connected, as at 10, to the respective ends of a coupling link 1|. Threaded in and through the midportion of the link is a vertical adjustment screw 12 whereof the depending end bears upon and co-acts with the opposing lug 13 of the adjacent cradle 46 which carries the switch 4| of the circuit 42. The pivot orifice 14 in one end of the link is elongated to compensate for varying relative movement of the two plungers 34, as will presently appear. As illustrated the plungers 34 are vertically adjusted so as normally to depend slightly below the intermediate plunger 33. v

During each dwell of the tray conveyer all th detectors are raised and lowered by the reciprocating head 23, a predetermined distance in timed relation to the tray feeding means in order to position the head at a predetermined level above the tray when the support is in its lowered position, it being noted that in the case of an overlled tray when the central detector has been raised by its contact with the opposing protection strip as hereinbefore described, the two detectors 34 bear upon and, together with the coupling link 1| and the adjustment screw 12 thereon, are slightly raised in relation to the head 23 and against the pressure of the respective springs 36. Since the screw 12 is lifted from the cradle 46 the latter with its switch remains in normal position. Consequently the circuit 42 is open and the signal 43 is idle while the switch 38 is closed. (See Figs. 3 and 9). In the succeeding ascent of the plunger head 23 the plungers are caused by the springs 36 to resume their normal condition in relation to the head 23, in which case the spring pin 58, being lowered by the force of the spring 36 `on the central rod 33, depresses the opposing arm of the lever 56 and permits the cradle 45 and its switch 38 to gravitate to circuit opening condition, thus switching off the lamp 40. In that case both switches are open and their signals are out.

Should any succeeding overfilled tray be encountered by the detector plungers, the circuit 39 in which the lamp 40 is included will be similarly closed and opened, While the circuit 42 remains open. 1f, however, an underfilled tray should be presented to the plungers 34 they will simultaneously descend and bear upon the contents of the tray, thus lowering the coupling link 1| and pressing the screw 12 down upon the lug 13 of the cradle 46 in a manner to tilt the cradle and its switch 4| to the inclined circuit closing position, as seen most clearly in Figs. 2 and 8. As a result the signal 43 will be energized so as to direct the attention of the attendant to the presence of the underfilled tray in order that such tray may be removed as in the case of an overfilled tray.

Preferably included in the electric circuit 42 is an electrically operated motor 15 of the solenoid type which is operatively connected with a register 16 whereby the number of underlled trays borne by the conveyer during a given period of time is indicated. Associated with the register 16 and operating synchronously therewith is a device for piercing, indenting or otherwise marking the forward end of each underlled tray in order to identify the tray for removal by the attendant, as will presently appear.

In the present instance the motor 15 and register 16 are mounted on a forwardly and upwardly inclined bed 11 which is supported on the table |6 laterally of the path of the tray conveyer when a tray is located in the signaling zone or detector station. As shown the outer end of the solenoid core 18 of the motor is fixed to an upwardly extending bar 19 whereof the upper end is secured by means of set-nuts to a rod 8| which is slidably mounted in the -upstanding end lugs 82 of an inclined bracket 83 located on the motor frame 84. This rod, which declines rearwardly toward the conveyer, is pointed at its lower end, as at 85, and is reciprocable toward and from the opposing tray in the conveyer when the motor` 15 is energized by the closing of the switch 4|. The rod 8| and the core 18 are normally retracted from the path of the proximate tray wall by means of a spring 86 which, encircling the rod, bears at its upper end against `one of the nuts 8|) on the rod and at the lower end against the opposing lug 82 of the bracket 83. Byl means of a suitable retracting spring 81, the actuating arm 88 for the register shaft 89 is maintained in contact with a lateral stud 90 on the connecting bar 19 and hence the pointed rod is reciprocated concurrently with the core. When the core is magnetically retracted the rod 8| is projected thereby toward the conveyer against the action of the spring 86, thus causing the point of the rod to pierce or indent the opposing wall of the adjacent tray, whereupon the spring 86 when the motor 15 is deenergized returns the rod and core to their normal position.

If an insufficient quantity of matches is contained in any tray presented to the detector plungers, yet are massed, say, in an inclined position at either end of the tray, as seen, for example, in Fig. 7., the electric switch 4| will be tilted to close its circuit, and therefore energize the signal 43 and the motor 15. In the condition mentioned the central overll plunger 33 does not effectively bear upon the inclined protection strip in the tray, and therefore the switch 38 remains open. The underll plungers 34, by virtue of the relative positions which they and their link 1| are caused to assume, effect the tilting of the cradle 46 and its switch 4| to circuit closing position, because in the descent of the underll plungers 34 one of them descends toward or upon the lower portion of the protection strip within the tray while its ,companion bears upon and is restrained in its descent by the opposing higher portion of the strip, in that the pin and slot connection between the link and one of the plungers 34 enabling the link to assume an inclined position, as shown in Figs. '1 and 8. Consequently, by virtue of the action of the spring of the unrestrained plunger, the presser screw 12 in the mdportion of the link bears upon the cradle 46 and tilts the latter and its switch 4| to the circuit closing position.

It is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the particular exemplifying form thereof herein disclosed, as the mechanisms may be modied within the principle of the invention and the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In a packing machine including means for feeding a succession of trays containing matches, means for automatically indicating the presence of overlled and underlled trays, comprising a support overhanging the path of the trays, a plurality of detectors arranged in spaced relation on, and all carried by, said support, one of said detectors constituting an overll detector and the others constituting underfill detectors, means for resiliently depressing said detectors relatively to the support and maintaining the lower end of said overll detector normally at a level above that of the lower ends of said underfill detectors, means for reciprocating said support and detectors a predetermined distance in timed relation to the feeding means to position the support at a predetermined level above the tray when the support is in its lowered position, whereby the overll detector moves relative to the support when in Contact with the raised ccntents of an oveirlled tray, and whereby said underll -detectors may move relative to the support when in contact with the contents of an underlled tray, while the overfill detector remains out of contact with the contents of an underlled tray, an electric switch, means including a movable member under the influence of said overll detector for closing said switch when said overll detector abuts the contents of an overfilled tray, a oating coupling element pivotally connecting said underll detectors and having a presser member between its ends, a second electric switch, and means including a movable member with which said presser member co-acts to close said second switch when said underll detectors abut the substantially level contents of an underiilled tray, and also to close said second switch by the inclination of said coupling element when the downward movement of either of said underll detectors is restrained by the opposing raised portion of the uneven contents of an underiilled tray while the other underll detector descends to a lower level within the tray.

2. In a machine for packing matches including means for feeding a succession of trays containing matches, means for automatically indicating the presence of underiilled trays, comprising a plurality of detectors arranged in spaced relation and movable into and from each succeeding tray so as to detect an underlled tray, a support for said detectors, resilient means for depressing the said detectors relatively to said support, means for reciprocating said support and detectors a predetermined distance in timed relation to the feeding means to position the support at a predetermined level above the tray when the support is in its lowered position, a floating coupling element pivotally connecting said detectors and having a presser member between its ends, an electric switch, and means including a movable member with which said presser member co-acts to close the switch when said detectors abut the substantially level contents of an underlled tray, and also to close said switch by the inclination of said coupling element when the downward movement of either of said detectors is restrained by the opposing raised portion of the uneven contents of an underflled tray while the other detector descends to a lower level within the tray.

3. In a machine for packing matches including means for feeding a succession of trays containing matches to a detector station, means for automatically indicating the presence of underlled trays at said station, comprising a plurality of detectors arranged in spaced relation and movable toward and from the contents of each succeeding tray at said station, means for moving the detectors towards and from the contents of the tray a predetermined distance, a coupling element pivotally connecting said detectors and having a presser member between its ends, resilient means between the detectors and the moving means for the detectors to permit the full movement of the detector moving means if the detectors impinge upon the contents of the tray, an electric switch, and means including a-movable member with which said presser member co-acts to close the switch when said detectors abut the substantially level contents of an underlled tray, and also to close said switch by the inclination of said coupling element when the downward movement of either of said detectors is restrained by the opposing raised portion of the uneven contents of an underfllled tray while the other detector descends to a lower level Within the tray.

HUGO BROWN. 

